Bed crank mounting

ABSTRACT

A bed crank mounting, includes a tube which is adapted to be connected to a rotatable part which is rotated to adjust the height of a bed or the position of one of its parts. The tube is provided with a slot extending inwardly from its outer end and carries a cross pivot pin upon which is mounted a hand crank for turning the tube and for raising and lowering the bed. The hand crank includes an axially elongated slot in which the pivot pin of the tube is confined. A cap is secured around the end of the tube and it includes an end slot which continues downwardly and along one side in alignment with the slot of the tube. The hand crank may pivot on the cross pin carried by the tube between a position in which the pin is engaged at the inner end of the slot and the end of the hand crank is engaged within the tube in a position for rotating the part or, to a position in which the pin is moved down to the outer end of the slot of the hand crank and the crank is pivoted downwardly and located to extend within the slot of the tube and the cap member. The construction includes means for holding the crank both in an inoperative position at which it extends downwardly and inwardly from the end of the tube. The holding means comprise either the formation at the end of the crank which provides a biasing effect when the crank is in a retracted downward position to hold it in that position, or projecting elements on the cap member which engage behind the crank to hold it in this position.

illniteo'l States Patent Benoit et al.

[ Nov. 13, 1973 Primary Examiner-Charles .l. Myhre Assistant Examiner-F. D. Shoemaker Attorney-Arthur A. March [57] ABSTRACT A bed crank mounting, includes a tube which is adapted to be connected to a rotatable part which is rotated to adjust the height of a bed or the position of one of its parts. The tube is provided with a slot extending inwardly from its outer end and carries a cross pivot pin upon which is mounted a hand crank for turning the tube and for raising and lowering the bed. The hand crank includes an axially elongated slot in which the pivot pin of the tube is confined. A cap is secured around the end of the tube and it includes an end slot which continues downwardly and along one side in alignment with the slot of the tube. The hand crank may pivot on the cross pin carried by the tube between a position in which the pin is engaged at the inner end of the slot and the end of the hand crank is engaged within the tube in a position for rotating the part or, to a position in which the pin is moved down to the outer end of the slot of the hand crank and the crank is pivoted downwardly and located to extend within the slot of the tube and the cap member. The construction includes means for holding the crank both in an inoperative position at which it extends downwardly and inwardly from the end of the tube. The holding means comprise either the formation at the end of the crank which provides a biasing effect when the crank is in a retracted downward position to hold it in that position, or projecting elements on the cap member which engage behind the crank to hold it in this position.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BED CRANK MOUNTING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates in general to the construction of devices for raising and lowering mattress support parts of a bed and, in particular, to a new and useful crank mounting for the bed which provides means for holding the crank in either an operative or an inoperative position.

2. Description of the Prior Art At the present time, many types of bed cranks are known which include means for positioning the cranks in an inoperative position. In most instances this is done by a construction which permits the sliding of the crank downwardly along the connecting shaft when it is not to be used. In other instances, the crank may be offset downwardly by an associated mounting mechanism. A disadvantage of the prior art constructions, however, is that they are expensive and they do not provide means for simply and easily holding the crank in both operative and inoperative positions as desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an improvement over the prior art principally in respect to the mounting of the crank for rotating a member for raising and lowering a bed and which includes means for easily positioning the crank for operation or for non-use in a retracted out of the way position. The inventive construction includes a tubular member which is adapted to be secured to the rotating part and which has an end which is slotted inwardly from this end, and it carries a cross pin which is confined in an elongated slot of a crank shaft of a separate crank member. When the crank shaft is positioned concentrically with the tube, it may be easily moved to position the cross pin down at the inner end of its slot and, in so doing, the inner ends of the crank shaft engages well within the tube and is supported thereby for engagement and rotation. The rotative force is transmitted through the pin. When it is desired to place the crank in an inoperative position, the pin is moved so that it moves down to the outer end of the slot of the crank shaft, and the crank sh,ft is pivoted downwardly. The end of the crank shaft is rounded so that it moves around in the associated tube under pressure engagement with the tube wall, and must move beyond the high point of the end to a stored or rest position at which the crank extends obliquely downwardly and inwardly from the end of the bed. The caming action of the end of the crank shaft on the interior of the tube holds the crank in a rest position. Alternatively to this arrangement, or in addition to it, the cap includes downwardly extending parts with projections which are located to engage behind the crank when it is in a rest position to hold it in place.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved device for mounting a bed crank which includes means for positioning the crank in an active operating position or in a retracted position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for operating a bed which includes a tubular member which is connected to a part to be rotated to raise and lower the bed and which has a slot extending inwardly from an end thereof and a cross pin arranged over the slot which is engaged in an axially elongated slot of a shaft of a crank member, the crank member being positionable with the pin at the inner end of the slot to actuate and rotate the tubular member and being positionable with the crank pin at the outer end of the slot in a downwardly extending oblique position in which the end of the crank is biased against the tubular member and held in this position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crank mounting for a bed which is simple in design, rugged in construction, and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DSECRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the Drawing:

FIG. 1 is a partial side perspective view of a bed having an adjusted crank mounting constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view partly in section of the crank mounting tube and crank shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawing in particular, the invention embodied therein comprises, a crank mounting assembly, generally designated 10, for a hospital bed 12, having a side frame part 14, and having a rotatable member 16, which is connected to means for raising and lowering a part of the bed for supporting the mattress.

In accordance with the invention, the mounting assembly 10 includes a tube 18 which is adapted to be connected to the rotatable part 16 and which includes an outer end having an inwardly extending slot 20 which, as shown, is oriented downwardly in respect to the bed 12. A pivot pin or force transmitting member 22 extends across the tube 18 and is anchored thereto. The pivot pin 22 is confined in an axially elongated slot 24 of a crank shaft portion 26 of a crank member, generally designated 28. The crank member 28 also includes a crank arm 30 with a handle portion 32.

The end of the tube 18 is covered by a cap member 34 which has an end slot 35 and an interior bore 36 which widens toward its outer end. The pin 22 extends into the walls of the cap 34 and is also supported by it. The crank shaft 26 comprises a flat plate and it includes a rounded inner end 40 having a high point 40' which moves under pressure beyond the interior wall of the tube 18 and provides a high point or stopping face 40' for holding the crank 28 when it is in a retracted nonoperative position, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 and solid lines in FIG. 1.

In order to permit the walls of the tube 18 to flex outwardly, the bore 36 of the cap 34 is widened at its inner end as shown.

The invention provides means for holding the crank 28 both in an operative position and in a non-operative position and such means comprise either the construction of the slot 24 with the high point 40' at the end of the crank shaft 26, or a pair of inwardly extending projections 4'2 and 44 formed on extensions 46 and 48 of the cap member 34. The projections 42 and 44 engage behind a top edge 26a of the crank portion when this portion is held obliquely inwardly and downwardly as shown in the dotted line position of FIG. 2.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When it is desired to operate the crank 28 to rotate the part 16 to adjust the bed, the crank shaft 26 is moved so that the slot 24 accommodates the pin 22 in the position shown in section in FIG. 2. This positions the rounded inner end 4M) of the crank beyond the inner end of the slot 20 in a position at which it is fully supported by the tube 18 concentrically in respect to the tube so that the shaft portion 26 extends horizontally outwardly therefrom and the crank may be easily rotated to adjust the part.

When it is desired to move the crank from an operative position, shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, to the inoperative position, shown in dotted lines, the crank is moved to an intermediate position shown at 28' in dotted lines in FIG. 2, by withdrawing the shaft 26 axially outwardly. This positions the crank pin 22 at the opposite or outer end of the slot 24 and permits rotation of the crank about the pin 22 to move the rounded end 40 so that it bears against the interior of the tube 18. By applying some downward pressure, the high point 40' of the rounded end will move beyond the radial position from the center of the pivot pin 22 to the high point 410' to position the crank in the inwardly obliquely extending position shown in dotted lines at 28". The tube 18 may move outwardly within the widened portion of the bore 26 in order to permit this movement. The crank 28 will remain in the nonoperative position in which it extends inwardly from the side of the bed and is located below the bed solely by the force of the tube 18 holding the end of the crank shaft 26.

Instead of the construction of the end of the shaft 26 so that it has a biasing action and retention action in respect to the associated tube 18, the cap 34 may be provided with projections 42 and 44 which engage behind the top edge 26a of the shaft portion 26 in the nonoperative position and hold it in this position if desired. Either or both of these arrangements may be provided to effect the satisfactory holding of the crank in the non-operative position. In the operative position, the crank is held by' the fact that it is inserted into the tube 118 to a greater extent to move it to a position at which it will be held by the tube 118 with the crank shaft 26 extending horizontally.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A crank mounting for a bed which has a part which is rotatable to adjust the bed, comprising a hollow tube member having an opened end with a slot extending axially inwardly therefrom, a pivot pin carried by said tubular member extending across the interior thereof, a crank having a shaft portion in said tubular member with an axially elongated slot in which said pivot pin is engaged and having a crank arm with a handle portion, said crank being pivotal on said pin between a position in which said crank shaft extends in axial alignment with said tubular member and a position in which said crank shaft extends obliquely to the axis of said tubular member, and holding means associated with said crank and said tubular member for holding said crank in a first operating position in which said crank shaft portion extends parallel to the axis of said tubular member and a second non-operative storage position in which said crank shaft portion extends obliquely in respect to the axis of said tubular member.

2. A crank mounting, according to claim 1, including a cap covering the end of said tubular member and having an access slot at its end through which said crank shaft portion extends and having a downwardly extending and opening slot aligned with the slot of said tubular member.

3. A crank mounting, according to claim 2, wherein said holding means comprising the slot in said crank shaft portion wich permits said crank to be shifted to position the pin at the inner end of said slot to permit the crank shaft portion to move inwardly within said tubular member so that the walls of said tubular member hold said crank portion in a position in which it extends axially outwardly from said tubular member.

4. A crank mounting, according to claim 1, wherein said holding means includes a rounded end portion of said crank shaft portion which bears against the interior of said tube when said crank is rotated about said pivot pin and which includes a high point which moves beyond engagement with the interior of said tube to hold said crank shaft portion obliquely inwardly and downwardly in a non-operative position.

5. A crank mounting, according to claim 1, wherein said holding means includes a downwardly extending portion of said cap located below the slot of said tubular member and having a projection thereon, said crank shaft portion being movable beyond the projection in an inoperative position and being held by the projection in such position.

6. A crank mounting for a bed which has a part which is rotated to adjust the bed, comprising a hollow tubular member having an opened end with a slot extending axially inwardly from the opened end at the bottom thereof, a cap axially covering an end portion of said tubular member and having a slot at an end thereof which continues into the lower portion thereof and which is in alignment with the slot of said tubular member, a pivot pin extending across the interior of said tubular member over said slots and held in said cap, a crank having a shaft portion which extends through the slot of said cap and into the interior of said tubular member and includes an axially elongated slot adjacent its interior end in which said pivot pin is engaged, said crank also having a crank arm portion forming a handle for rotating said crank, said pin being positionable at the inner end of said crank shaft portion slot to orient the inner end of said crank shaft portion beyond the inner end of the slot of said tubular member and to hold said crank shaft portion so as to extend axially outwardly from said tubular member in a position for operating said crank, said crank shaft portion being movable to shift said pin to the outer end of said crank shaft portion slot to permit rotation of said crank around said pivot pin to position said shaft portion downwardly below said tubular member, the end-of said crank shaft portion being shaped to engage against the interior wall of said tubular member and having a high portion which moves beyond bearing engagement of the intereach side of the slot in said tubular member forming an inwardly extending projection engageable behind the top edge of said crank shaft portion to hold said crank in a non-operative position. 

1. A crank mounting for a bed which has a part which is rotatable to adjust the bed, comprising a hollow tube member having an opened end with a slot extending axially inwardly therefrom, a pivot pin carried by said tubular member extending across the interior thereof, a crank having a shaft portion in said tubular member with an axially elongated slot in which said pivot pin is engaged and having a crank arm with a handle portion, said crank being pivotal on said pin between a position in whicH said crank shaft extends in axial alignment with said tubular member and a position in which said crank shaft extends obliquely to the axis of said tubular member, and holding means associated with said crank and said tubular member for holding said crank in a first operating position in which said crank shaft portion extends parallel to the axis of said tubular member and a second non-operative storage position in which said crank shaft portion extends obliquely in respect to the axis of said tubular member.
 2. A crank mounting, according to claim 1, including a cap covering the end of said tubular member and having an access slot at its end through which said crank shaft portion extends and having a downwardly extending and opening slot aligned with the slot of said tubular member.
 3. A crank mounting, according to claim 2, wherein said holding means comprising the slot in said crank shaft portion wich permits said crank to be shifted to position the pin at the inner end of said slot to permit the crank shaft portion to move inwardly within said tubular member so that the walls of said tubular member hold said crank portion in a position in which it extends axially outwardly from said tubular member.
 4. A crank mounting, according to claim 1, wherein said holding means includes a rounded end portion of said crank shaft portion which bears against the interior of said tube when said crank is rotated about said pivot pin and which includes a high point which moves beyond engagement with the interior of said tube to hold said crank shaft portion obliquely inwardly and downwardly in a non-operative position.
 5. A crank mounting, according to claim 1, wherein said holding means includes a downwardly extending portion of said cap located below the slot of said tubular member and having a projection thereon, said crank shaft portion being movable beyond the projection in an inoperative position and being held by the projection in such position.
 6. A crank mounting for a bed which has a part which is rotated to adjust the bed, comprising a hollow tubular member having an opened end with a slot extending axially inwardly from the opened end at the bottom thereof, a cap axially covering an end portion of said tubular member and having a slot at an end thereof which continues into the lower portion thereof and which is in alignment with the slot of said tubular member, a pivot pin extending across the interior of said tubular member over said slots and held in said cap, a crank having a shaft portion which extends through the slot of said cap and into the interior of said tubular member and includes an axially elongated slot adjacent its interior end in which said pivot pin is engaged, said crank also having a crank arm portion forming a handle for rotating said crank, said pin being positionable at the inner end of said crank shaft portion slot to orient the inner end of said crank shaft portion beyond the inner end of the slot of said tubular member and to hold said crank shaft portion so as to extend axially outwardly from said tubular member in a position for operating said crank, said crank shaft portion being movable to shift said pin to the outer end of said crank shaft portion slot to permit rotation of said crank around said pivot pin to position said shaft portion downwardly below said tubular member, the end of said crank shaft portion being shaped to engage against the interior wall of said tubular member and having a high portion which moves beyond bearing engagement of the interior of said tubular member when said crank shaft portion is in inoperative obliquely inwardly extending position and holds said crank in an inoperative position.
 7. A crank mounting, according to claim 6, wherein said cap has a downwardly extending portion bounding each side of the slot in said tubular member forming an inwardly extending projection engageable behind the top edge of said crank shaft portion to hold said crank in a non-operative position. 